KARACHI: International Day of Girl Child is being celebrated on Sunday (today) to promote the empowerment of girls around the world.
International Day of the Girl is observed on October 11 every year. The idea behind this day is to acknowledge and celebrate the importance and potential of girls around the world and to promote gender equality.
The day also aims to drive efforts to eliminate unique challenges that girls face globally. This year, the theme for International Day of the Girl is – ‘My voice, our equal future’ – she makes decisions about her body, her life.
Gender-based discrimination against girl child results in inequalities in areas such as access to education, nutrition, medical care, and legal rights.
Also, girls across the globe are susceptible to forced underage marriage and sexual violence. Every year, 12 million girls are pressed into marriage before they turn 18, according to UNICEF data.
Globally, one in every five girls has faced sexual violence. Almost 80 percent of fresh HIV infections among adolescents in southern and eastern Africa are among girls, WHO data shows.
In the last 20 years, considerable progress has been made to ensure that fundamental human rights of girls around the world are not violated.
However, there is still so much that needs to be done. So, this year, International Day of the Girl, with the theme of ‘My voice, our equal future’, aims to build a world where adolescent girls.
“Support girls. Listen to girls. Help girls realize their dreams,” Henrietta H. Fore, the executive director of UNICEF said in a tweet today.
Support girls.
Listen to girls.
Help girls realize their dreams.#DayOfTheGirl pic.twitter.com/29f1YzUq4I— Catherine Russell (@unicefchief) October 11, 2020
“Teenage girls are the new leaders of our time, creating global movements for change. They are ready for the challenge. On this International #DayOfTheGirl, let’s stand together with them and for them.” UN chief Antonio Guterres said.
Teenage girls are the new leaders of our time, creating global movements for change.
They are ready for the challenge.
On this International #DayOfTheGirl, let’s stand together with them and for them. pic.twitter.com/dYZTgRKg6I
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 11, 2020
